Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet comprising a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, a cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, in communication with the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber configured to accommodate an evaporator for the freezing compartment, a machine room provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, a cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment independently provided from the cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment configured to accommodate an evaporator for the refrigerating compartment, and a defrosted-water treating part configured to receive defrosted-water generated from the evaporator for the freezing compartment and the evaporator for the refrigerating compartment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator which can treat defrosted-water efficiently, with a machine room arranged in an upper portion thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, refrigerators use a cooling cycle configured of compression, expansion and evaporation of refrigerant to preserve food stuffs fresh. According to a configured of such a refrigerator having this cooling cycle, a fan is installed in a freezing compartment of a refrigerator and a cold air outlet is provided in the freezing compartment to enable cold air be ventilated by rotation of the fan.

A cold air inlet is provided in the freezing compartment to enable the cold air having circulated inside the freezing compartment after generated by an evaporator to return to the evaporator.

According to a cold air circulation of the refrigerator having the above configuration, cold air is supplied to the freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, at the moment that the evaporator and the fan are put into operation together with the refrigerator.

After the cold air generated from the evaporator typically cools air inside the freezing compartment, the cold air is drawn into the freezing compartment via the cold air inlet from the freezing compartment. The cold air drawn into the refrigerating compartment is circulated inside the freezing compartment and then it is exhausted out of the refrigerating compartment via the cold air inlet.

If a user opens a refrigerator door, external hot air outside the refrigerator is drawn into the freezing compartment only to be cooled and moisture contained in the external air is attached to a surface of the cold evaporator to form a frost layer.

This frost layer attached to the surface of the evaporator interferes with heatexchange of the evaporator and a cooling function of the refrigerator could be deteriorated accordingly. To prevent this phenomenon, a conventional refrigerator includes a defrost device.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The defrost device heats and melts the frost layer condensed on the evaporator, to remove the frost layer attached on the surface of the evaporator. A defrosting heater is broadly used as defrost device.

Water defrosted by the defrosting heater may be treated in various methods and more various efforts have been examined to treat the defrosted water efficiently.

Solution to Problem

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a refrigerator.

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which includes a machine room arranged in an upper portion thereof and which can improve storage efficiency by securing more inner space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can treat defrosted-water and reduce vibration generated in a compressor as much as possible, in the state of the machine room arranged in the upper portion thereof.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a refrigerator includes a cabinet comprising a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment; a cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, in communication with the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber configured to accommodate an evaporator for the freezing compartment; a machine room provided in an upper portion of the cabinet; a cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment independently provided from the cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment configured to accommodate an evaporator for the refrigerating compartment; and a defrosted-water treating part configured to receive defrosted-water generated from the evaporator for the freezing compartment and the evaporator for the refrigerating compartment.

The defrosted-water treating part may be provided in a pipe of a drain condenser configured to flow high-temperature refrigerant generated from a compressor of the machine room there though.

The defrosted-water treating part may include a defrosted-water tray configured to receive defrosted-water therein; and a drain condenser tube arranged in the defrosted-water tray, branched from the drain condenser.

A fixture may be provided in the defrosted-water tray to fix the drain condenser tube.

The defrosted-water treating part may be provided in a lower portion of the cabinet.

The defrosted-water treating part may evaporate defrosted-water.

A joint pipe may be provided between the compressor and a drain condenser, with being connected to the cabinet vertically.

A plurality of fixing holders may be installed in the joint pipe along a longitudinal direction.

The plurality of the fixing holders may be installed along an outer circumferential surface of the joint pipe, in close contact.

A noise absorbing member may be provided in the fixing holder to reduce noise generated by interference between the joint pipe and the fixing holder.

A connection pipe may be provided between an outlet end of the compressor and a joint pipe to enable refrigerant generated in the compressor to move toward the joint pipe.

A damping member may be provided in a connected portion of the connection pipe between the outlet end of the compressor and the joint pipe.

In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator comprises a cabinet comprising a storage compartment; a cold air generation chamber for the storage compartment provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, in communication with the storage compartment and accommodating an evaporator; a machine room provided in an upper portion of the cabinet and accommodating a compressor and a condenser; a defrosted-water tray configured to collect defrosted-water therein; and a drain condenser tube arranged in the defrosted-water tray to vaporize the defrosted-water.

The drain condenser tube is configured to be branched from a drain condenser in which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor moves into the condenser.

The refrigerator further comprises a joint pipe to connect the compressor with the drain condenser; a connection pipe to connect the compressor with the joint pipe, the connection pipe configured to be bent a plurality of times; a fixing holder to fix the joint pipe to the body; a damping member provided on the connection pipe to absorb a vibration and a noise of the connection pipe.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The refrigerator according to the present invention may give a refrigerator having an improved inner capacity to a user. As a result, the present invention has an advantageous effect of improved product satisfaction.

Also, the refrigerator according to the present invention could remove the defrosted-water using thermal energy generated from the refrigerant during operation of the refrigerator. Accordingly, the energy could be re-used, and efficiency of consumption of the energy could be maximized.

Furthermore, the refrigerator according to the present invention could absorb and minimize the vibration and noise generated from the pipe during the operation of the compressor and moving of the refrigerant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a defrosted-water-treating part provided in the refrigerator;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a fixing holder installed in a joint pipe of the refrigerator;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a machine room of the refrigerator;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connection pipe provided in the machine room of the refrigerator;

FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams illustrating operational states of the refrigerator; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a drier provided in the refrigerator.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

As follows, a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings.

In reference to FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 1 configured to define an exterior appearance thereof and freezing and refrigerating compartments 10 and 20 provided in the cabinet 1.

The freezing and refrigerating compartments 10 and 20 are arranged in parallel. A cold air generation chamber is provide in each of the freezing and refrigerating compartments 10 and 20 to preserve storing objects frozen or refrigerated based on an independent cooling type.

A cold air generation chamber 300 for the refrigerating compartment configured to generate cold air drawn into the refrigerating compartment 20 may be provided in the cabinet 1. A cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment may be provided on an upper surface of the cabinet 1 corresponding to beyond the freezing compartment 10 and the machine room 200 is installed next to the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment to receive a compressor 210, a condenser 220 and the like therein.

The cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment includes an evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment and a cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment. The cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment draws air inside the freezing compartment 10 toward the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment 110 and it exhausts heat-exchanged air inside the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment toward the freezing compartment 10.

The cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment may be covered by predetermined heat-insulating material to be heat-insulated from the outside.

Here, the appearance of the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment may be approximately rectangular block-shaped to correspond with inner space of the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment.

A cold air inlet 120 and a cold air outlet 125 are formed in a lower surface of the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment. The cold air inlet 120 enables the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment to communicate with the freezing compartment 10 and it guides the air of the freezing compartment 120 into the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment. The cold air outlet 125 is adjacent to the cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment to guide the air exhausted from the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment toward the freezing compartment 10.

The evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment may be installed between the cold air outlet 125 and the cold air inlet 120.

The cold air outlet 125 is connected with a guide duct 130 to distribute the cold air exhausted from the cold air outlet 125 into the freezing compartment 10 uniformly.

This configuration makes the cold air circulated via the freezing compartment 10, the cold air inlet 120, the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment, the cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment, the cold air outlet 125, the guide duct 130 and the freezing compartment sequentially.

The cold air generation chamber 300 for the refrigerating compartment 20 configured to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment 20 is installed adjacent to the refrigerating compartment 20, specifically, in the cabinet 10, not on the cabinet like the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment.

Here, the cold air generation chamber 300 for the refrigerating compartment may be installed in a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment and it may be partitioned off from the refrigerating compartment 10 by a predetermined partition wall.

The cold air generation chamber 300 for the refrigerating compartment includes an evaporator 310 for the refrigerating compartment and a cold air fan for the refrigerating compartment to supply the cold air generated from the evaporator 310 for the refrigerating compartment toward the refrigerating compartment 20. The cold air fan (not shown) for the refrigerating compartment may be accommodated in a fan case (not shown).

A cover member 30 is provided in a front surface of the machine room 200 and a predetermined number of communication holes 32 may be provided in the cover member 30 to communicate an inside with an outside of the machine room 200, such that air may be supplied to cool the condenser 220.

In reference to FIG. 2, defrosted-water generated from the evaporators 110 and 310 for the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment may flow into a defrosted-water treating part 400 configured to treat defrosted-water.

A drain condenser pipe 500 is provided in the defrosted-water treating part 400 to pass high temperature refrigerant generated in the compressor 210 of the machine room 200 there through.

The defrosted-water treating part 400 includes a defrosted-water tray 410 configured to accommodate defrosted-water and a drain condenser tube 510 arranged in the defrosted-water tray 410, with branched from the drain condenser 500.

The drain condenser tub 510 enables a predetermined amount of refrigerant flowing along the drain condenser 500 to be drawn into the drain condenser tube 510, using thermal energy of the high temperature refrigerant exhausted from the compressor 210. The heat of the drawn refrigerant is thermal-conducted with an outside of the condenser tube 510 to evaporate or vaporize the defrosted-water received in the defrosted-water tray 410.

The drain condenser tub 510 may be arranged to cover a bottom area of the defrosted-water tray 410.

The defrosted-water tray 410 includes a fixture 412 configured to fix the drain condenser tub 510 and a plurality of fixtures 412 which are hook-shaped may be provided in the defrosted-water tray 410 to fix the drain condenser tube 510.

The defrosted-water treating part 400 is provided on a lower surface of the cabinet 1 and it evaporates the defrosted-water.

The reason why the defrosted-water received in the defrosted-water treating part 400 is evaporated is that it is difficult for the user to check the defrosted-water tray 410 to treat defrosted-water every time. In addition, this configuration is advantageously effective in energy saving, because the thermal energy of the refrigerant generated in the compressor 210 can be recycled to treat defrosted-water.

As mentioned above, the defrosted-water may be evaporation-treated or exhausted via an auxiliary drain hole formed in the defrosted-water tray 410.

In addition, the defrosted-water tray 410 may be installed obliquely in a predetermined single direction to exhaust the defrosted-water more smoothly.

In reference to FIG. 3, the joint pipe 600 may be installed between the compressor 210 and the drain condenser 500, with being connected to the cabinet 1 vertically.

The joint pipe 600 may be installed between the compressor 210 and the drain condenser 500 and another joint pipe is installed between the drain condenser 500 and the condenser 220.

A plurality of fixing holders 610 may be installed in the joint pipe 600 along a longitudinal direction and the plurality of the fixing holders 610 may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other.

The high pressure refrigerant exhausted from the compressor 210 may generate vibration and noise, moving along the joint pipe 600. Because of that, it is advantageous to install the fixing holders 610 at a predetermined interval.

The fixing holders 610 may closely contacts with an outer circumferential surface of the joint pipe 600. A noise absorbing member 612 is provided in each of the fixing holders 610 to reduce the noise generated by the interference with the joint pipe 600.

The noise absorbing member 612 may be made of Foam material capable of reducing vibration and noise generated in the joint pipe 600 (e.g. poly urethane foam and sponge). Rather than the foam material, rubber capable of reduce noise and vibration may be used as absorbing material.

In reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the compressor 210 includes a connection pipe 212 to move the refrigerant generated from the compressor 210 to the joint pipe 600 and the connection pipe 212 is connected between the joint pipe 600 and an outlet end of the compressor 210.

The connection pipe 212 may be bent predetermined number of times inside the machine room 200 to reduce the vibration generated by the high pressure refrigerant exhausted from the compressor, looking line a curvature pipe.

A damping membmer 214 is provided in a predetermined portion of the connection pipe 212, corresponding to a connected portion between the outlet end of the compressor 210 and the joint pipe 600. The damping member 214 may be a shock absorbing member made of rubber. The present invention presents the damping member 214 configured of a tube-shape having an open part open along a longitudinal direction to be connected with the connection pipe 212.

A hot-line pipe may be installed in the refrigerator to prevent dew from being generated along an edge of an inner portion of the door.

A predetermined amount of high temperature refrigerant flowing from the condenser 220 is supplied to the hot-line pipe and the refrigerant is moved, with the hot-line pipe embedded in the inner portion of the door. As a result, dew generation of the door inner portion is prevented.

The Operation of the refrigerator having the above configuration will be described in reference to corresponding drawings.

In reference to FIG. 6, the compressor 210 provided in the machine room 200 is put into operation and then refrigerant with a high temperature/pressure is exhausted from the compressor 210 to be supplied to the connection pipe (212, see FIG. 5).

The connection pipe 212 includes the damping member (214, see FIG. 5) to dampen vibration and shock which might be generated during the moving of the high pressure refrigerant and in addition, the connection pipe 212 is bent-shaped. Because of that, the vibration and noise generated by the flowing of the refrigerant may be reduced efficiently.

The damping members 214 may be installed in the connected portion between the outlet end of the compressor 210 and the connection pipe 212 and between the connected portion between the join pipe 600 and the connection pipe 212, respectively, only to reduce the vibration and the noise generated by the refrigerant flow along the connection pipe 212 as much as possible.

After drawn into the joint pipe 600, the refrigerant is moved downward to be drawn into the drain condenser 500 and it is moved along a motion path of the drain condenser 500. At this time, the predetermined amount of the refrigerant is moved via the drain condenser tube 510 and the other refrigerant is moved to the joint pipe 600 adjacent to the condenser 220 (see FIG. 3).

While the refrigerant is moving, the fixing holder 610 is installed in close contact with an outer portion of the joint pipe 600 configured to prevent the interference with the joint pipe adjacent thereto and the vibration of the joint pipe 600.

Since the noise absorbing member 612 is provided in the fixing holder 610, the minute vibration of the joint pipe 600 may be dampened by the noise absorbing member 612.

After drawn into the condenser 220, the refrigerant is condensed by external air drawn via the communication hole 32 of the cover member 30. The external air having been drawn into the machine room 200 may deteriorate the heat generated in the compressor 210 and then the air may be exhausted outside the cover member 30.

The refrigerant passes the condenser 220 and after that, it moves into the drier (31, see FIG. 9).

A predetermined upper portion of the drier 31 in which gaseous refrigerant is located may be oblique.

The gaseous refrigerant is located in the upper portion and liquid refrigerant is located in a lower portion of a single bomb provided in the drier 31. Because of that, liquid and gaseous refrigerant may be located separately and separation of gaseous and liquid refrigerant may be implemented more efficiently.

The refrigerant having passed the drier 31 may pass 3-way valve and move into the expansion valve, to be drawn into both of the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment and the evaporator 310 for the refrigerating compartment.

The freezing compartment 10 and the refrigerating compartment 20 are driven based on independent cooling methods, respectively. The cold air generated by the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment is supplied only to the freezing compartment 10.

According to the circulation of the cold air under this configuration of the freezing compartment 10 and the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment, air located in the freezing compartment 10 which had a predetermined heat taken from by storing objects may be moved into the cold inlet 120 provided between the freezing compartment 10 and the cold air generation chamber 100 for the freezing compartment by the operation of the cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment.

The air having passed the cold air inlet 120 is heat-exchanged via the evaporator 110 for the freezing compartment 110 and the air having a relatively lowered temperature is moved to the cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment.

The cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment blows the air having passed the evaporator 110 into the cold air outlet 125 provided adjacent to the cold air fan 115 for the freezing compartment and the guide duct 130 connected with the cold air outlet 125 sequentially. After that, the air passes a cold air supply hole 135 to be re-supplied into the freezing compartment 10.

The state of the cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment will be described in reference to corresponding drawings.

In reference to FIG. 7, the cold air fan 320 for the refrigerating compartment provided in the refrigerating compartment 20 allows air inside the refrigerating compartment 20 into a lower portion of the heat exchanger 310 for the refrigerating compartment.

The exhaustion capability of the cold air fan for the refrigerating compartment allows the air having moved into the lower portion of the heat exchanger 310 for the refrigerating compartment to pass the heat exchanger 310 for the refrigerating compartment, only to return to the cold air fan. At this time, heat exchanging is implemented between the air and the heat exchanger 310 for the refrigerating compartment.

The air having heat exchanged may be drawn into the cold air fan for the refrigerating compartment and it is circulated in a fan casing configured to cover the cold air fan to be exhausted outside. Then, the air is re-supplied to the refrigerating compartment 20 to form its circulation path.

In reference to FIG. 8, defrosted-water generated during the operation of the refrigerator is drawn into the defrosted-water tray 410 to be collected in a bottom of the defrosted-water tray 410.

The refrigerator is not an electric appliance turned on and off to stop its operation.

Because of that, a frost layer is formed by mixture of cold air used to preserve and freeze food stuffs external air. This frost layer is defrosted by an auxiliary defrost device and the defrosted-water generated during the defrosting process is collected in the defrosted-water tray 410 as mentioned above.

At the same time, high temperature refrigerant moved into the condenser 220 by the compressor 210 is moved along the drain condenser tube 510, after passing the drain condenser 500, to exhaust the heat of the refrigerant outside.

The heat exhausted from the drain condenser tube 510 has a relatively high temperature in comparison to the temperature of the defrosted-water. Because of that, the defrosted-water is evaporated as shown in FIG. 8.

As a result, the defrosted-water is not drawn into the defrosted-water tray 410 continuously during the operation of the refrigerator and all of the defrosted-water collected in the defrosted-water tray 410 is evaporated by continuous heat-radiation of the drain condenser tub 510.

Because of that, the defrosted-water may be treated by using the heat energy of the refrigerant efficiently.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet comprising a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment; a cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, in communication with the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber configured to accommodate an evaporator for the freezing compartment; a machine room provided in an upper portion of the cabinet; a cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment independently provided from the cold air generation chamber for the freezing compartment, the cold air generation chamber for the refrigerating compartment configured to accommodate an evaporator for the refrigerating compartment; and a defrosted-water treating part configured to receive defrosted-water generated from the evaporator for the freezing compartment and the evaporator for the refrigerating compartment.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defrosted-water treating part is provided in a pipe of a drain condenser configured to flow high-temperature refrigerant generated from a compressor of the machine room there though.
 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defrosted-water treating part comprises, a defrosted-water tray configured to receive defrosted-water therein; and a drain condenser tube arranged in the defrosted-water tray, branched from the drain condenser.
 4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein a fixture is provided in the defrosted-water tray to fix the drain condenser tube.
 5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defrosted-water treating part is provided in a lower portion of the cabinet.
 6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defrosted-water treating part is configured to evaporates defrosted-water.
 7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein a joint pipe is provided between the compressor and a drain condenser, with being connected to the cabinet vertically.
 8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of fixing holders are installed in the joint pipe along a longitudinal direction.
 9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of the fixing holders are installed along an outer circumferential surface of the joint pipe, in close contact.
 10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein a noise absorbing member is provided in the fixing holder to reduce noise generated by interference between the joint pipe and the fixing holder.
 11. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connection pipe is provided between an outlet end of the compressor and a joint pipe to enable refrigerant generated in the compressor to move toward the joint pipe.
 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 11, wherein a damping member is provided in a connected portion of the connection pipe between the outlet end of the compressor and the joint pipe.
 13. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet comprising a storage compartment; a cold air generation chamber for the storage compartment provided in an upper portion of the cabinet, in communication with the storage compartment and accommodating an evaporator; a machine room provided in an upper portion of the cabinet and accommodating a compressor and a condenser; a defrosted-water tray configured to collect defrosted-water therein; and a drain condenser tube arranged in the defrosted-water tray to vaporize the defrosted-water.
 14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the drain condenser tube is configured to be branched from a drain condenser in which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor moves into the condenser.
 15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a joint pipe to connect the compressor with the drain condenser; a connection pipe to connect the compressor with the joint pipe, the connection pipe configured to be bent a plurality of times; a fixing holder to fix the joint pipe to the body; a damping member provided on the connection pipe to absorb a vibration and a noise of the connection pipe. 